bloodfeather: Raw Riffs and Relentless Passion from Tartu

bloodfeather blends rock and metal to create a sound that’s raw, powerful, and unforgettable, with the band now prepping for the finals at Tallinn Music Week.

Apr 06, 2026

bloodfeather, from Tartu, Estonia, blends rock and metal into a ‘cocktail that leaves blood in your mouth and feathers in the air’. The band, made up of Erik Vink, Claude Alt, Benjamin Roomes, and Andres Täht, has gained a strong following across the Baltics with their intense live performances and annual Emo Nights in Tallinn and Tartu.

In 2025 and 2026, they were selected as one of the 12 best Estonian metal acts at the Heavy Music Band Battle, and they recently opened for Deez Nuts at Von Krahl in Tallinn. With eight singles and a debut EP released in October 2025, their latest track, “Closer Enemy,” shows just how far Bloodfeather is willing to push their sound. They’ll be back on stage at Tallinn Music Week for the Heavy Music Band Battle finals on April 11th, 2026.

I had the chance to discuss with the band’s guitarist, Benjamin, about what music really means to them.

What inspired you to start making music and to form bloodfeather? Was there a specific moment or influence growing up in Estonia that pushed you towards music?

I’m actually English so I didn’t grow up in Estonia. However, Bloodfeather was born out of a previous band called Her Memorial Discourse, who are very important within Estonia’s music scene as I’d say they spearheaded the metal-core movement in this country.

They split when members wished to do different things artistically and Bloodfeather became the band to create less technical and more rough and emotional music; trying to step away from typical ‘core’ tropes (With the exception of squeezing in breakdowns, because everybody loves a good breakdown!)

What does music mean to you personally?

Music for me is an extremely important form of expression but also a perfect outlet to feel all emotions in a healthy way. Beyond the art & entertainment, it’s a great way to regulate your nervous system. It also allows me to find connection with others within a community.

Which bands and musicians have inspired you the most? What would be your personal Top 5 albums or artists, and why did you choose them?

I’ll answer this aiming to keep the band’s overall inspiration in mind.

Bring Me the Horizon, Stray From the Path, Fever 333, Beartooth, Limp Bizkit.

This selection represents artists we’ve tried to take cues from, whether it’s from songwriting, visual design, or stage production. I’d say the bands listed have a great ability to create heavy music that can still be uplifting and work in a party setting where you can get the audience to bounce or dance in a live situation.

Are you inspired by musicians from the Baltic or Nordic region? Any Estonian artists that had an impact on your sound?

Normandie are a band from Sweden who we took inspiration from when writing our song Closer Enemy. We were trying to see how ‘Pop’ we could go whilst retaining our rock/metal roots.

Why do you think rock and metal music are still important for young people in Estonia and Baltics today?

Estonia is the country of the singing revolution and music is not just culturally important but historically and politically too across the Baltics. Metal is simply an extension of that so for those who it resonates with, it connects you to a larger history and cultural identity.

But on a more personal level, what I was saying before about having an outlet. As a teenager, so much of the music I listened to helped me express my emotions at that time.

Is Estonian identity important to you as artists? Has local culture, language, or the underground scene influenced your music or image?

I believe Estonian identity is important, however because of the style of music we play I’d say our approach has been to not force that on our music, but simply write what we think is good. And in creating our best work, try to represent Estonia in the best way. For example we sing in English for the purpose of being more accessible internationally, and if someone in another country enjoys our music then hopefully someone thinks “Cool, that’s what Estonian artists are up to.”

Rock and metal often have roots in social or emotional expression. Do you think music should carry a political or social message, or is it more about personal and artistic expression for you?

Rock and metal doesn’t have to express political or social topics but I think it is the perfect vessel to do so. Music can be very powerful in connecting with people and so when paired with a message or intention, it can communicate that far and wide to audiences that may not have otherwise engaged in such things.

Having said that, there’s just as much importance for music to not take itself so seriously. Escapism is equally as important because sometimes people just want to clear their minds. Ultimately it’s good to have access to every form of music and let the listener decide what they want to connect with.

How does the songwriting process look for Bloodfeather? Do you all come together in one room to write or work individually?

It’s actually extremely collaborative. When I joined the band I was slightly worried there’d be pressure to be the main songwriter, but as we started writing I saw how everyone had great ideas and input. I’ll prepare a bunch of demos by myself at home but then we’ll make a point of getting in a room and jamming things out the old fashioned way. I have strong trust in the other guys’ taste because I started as a fan of the band and since joining I don’t want to disrupt the identity of the music. Typically after all ideas have been discussed, Erik our singer is the one to have final say and give the ‘Bloodfeather’ stamp of approval.

What kinds of challenges or barriers have you faced as musicians in Estonian music scene?

Estonia being a small country, it limits how many shows you can do because it makes little sense to regularly play the same town or city repeatedly. It’s also a double edged sword in the sense that it’s easier to network and gain opportunities internally (E.g. we’re not a massive band but we’re on national TV and radio), but breaking out of the country seems trickier.

How would you describe your listeners? What do you think they connect with most in your music?

I feel lucky to describe our listeners as dedicated. We may not be the largest band but we certainly have a following of loyal fans. One example being that we crowdfunded the recording of our debut EP. The response was overwhelming and we smashed our target with plenty to spare, which we were then able to invest in our release shows and music videos.

Prior to joining the band, my connection came from discovering an artist that was writing to a high level in their genre and most importantly maintaining their own character. I feel like Bloodfeather is one of those bands where if a new song comes out, you can instantly recognise it’s us, and I’d like to think that’s how other listeners feel also.

How would you describe the Estonian alternative or underground rock/metal scene right now?

The most alive that it’s ever been! With the birth of Eesti Raskemuusikaliit (Heavy Music Estonia) in 2022, the community is really connecting and building itself up. There are loads of new bands appearing, there’s a consistent series of networking and showcase events, and the founder Ott Evestus has been doing an amazing job of creating international contacts and opportunities for Estonian artists.

One main example is the Heavy Music Band Battle that we’re currently involved in. The main prize is an opportunity to play at Mystic Festival in Poland! Also for the first time, Latvian and Lithuanian bands are competing as part of an effort to strengthen ties between the Baltic nations. The battle this year is also an official part of Tallinn Music Week meaning that the finalists get to be seen/meet all the same international representatives and delegates that would be present at the TMW Metal Stage.

What has been the band’s best or most memorable concert so far?

A highlight for Bloodfeather has been opening for the Australian hardcore band Deez Nuts in Tallinn. But honestly, this year’s Heavy Music Band Battle semi-final was a night that we won’t forget any time soon. Two bands qualify based on a jury vote and an audience vote. We’re from a smaller town, Tartu, so felt we’d be at a disadvantage playing in Tallinn, the capital. Not only did we win the audience vote, we won the jury vote as well! It was a gratifying experience!

Is there a song or artist you would never want to hear again?

Coldplay, Imagine Dragons, and Around the Sun :D

Do you enjoy other contrasting genres like grunge, jazz, classical, punk, or folk? Do any of these influence your sound?

The band listens to a range of different genres, inside and out of rock/metal. I don’t feel these things directly influence our sound necessarily but they act as a palette cleanser, so when we return to writing heavy music we can approach it with a clear mind instead of trying to simply recreate whatever current big bands are doing.

How would you like Bloodfeather to be remembered in music history?

Fame and fortune would be lovely! But being realistic, I think the thing we could be most proud of is if people viewed us as one of the strongest bands in our scene that played a key role in working alongside Heavy Music Estonia to strengthen ties between the Baltic and Nordic countries and grow our community!

Are there any plans to tour abroad (for example, the UK)? What can we expect next from the band?

There are certainly plans to tour abroad but we’re aiming to start closer to home by reaching audiences in Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland. As the English member in the band, playing the UK isn’t out of the question and would be something I would love to do!